Alberta students take virtual field trips to the wilderness

Alberta elementary students can now visit provincial parks - without leaving their classroom.

Through video conferencing, five new interactive educational programs will allow students to take online field trips to four provincial parks. Through the 'Next Best Thing to Being There' series of hour-long video conference presentations, students can trek into dinosaur country with paleontologists, learn about rock art and Alberta's First Nations history, uncover mysteries in our forests and discover birds, cougars and wetlands.

"For some students, this virtual field trip will be their first visit to a provincial park," said Tourism, Parks and Recreation Minister Cindy Ady. "We hope the experience will inspire a lifelong interest in our parks where they can enjoy and learn about nature firsthand."

The virtual programs are led by expert interpreters at Writing-on-Stone, Cypress Hills and Dinosaur Provincial Parks, and the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park.

"Alberta's SuperNet is being used in so many creative and innovative ways, and this project is yet another great example of how it is linking students across the province to incredible learning opportunities," said Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk.

Any school equipped for videoconferencing can book a presentation for $100. Each presentation has specific grade level curriculum connections.

  • The Wonder of Birds (Grades 1 & 2 Science)
  • The Dinosaur Provincial Park Virtual Excursion (Grade 3 Science and Grade 4 Social Studies)
  • The Áísínai ´pi Rock Art Tour (Grades 4 & 5 Social Studies)
  • Wetlands for Life (Grade 5 Science)
  • Cypress Forest Explorers (Grade 6 Science)

To find out more about educational videoconferencing and to watch a promotional video, visit www.edvc.albertaparks.ca.

In the Plan for Parks, the Alberta government has committed to ensuring that provincial parks are accessible to all Albertans and visitors, offering modern programs to encourage interest and opportunities.

Janice Sarich - MLA Edmonton-Decore
Honorable Heather Klimchuk, Service Alberta Minister
Minister Heather Klimchuk - St. Philip Elementary School students
Grade 1 students, St. Philip Elementary School
Grade 1 students, St. Philip Elementary School
Grade 1 students, St. Philip Elementary School
Grade 1 students, St. Philip Elementary School
Grade 1 students, St. Philip Elementary School
Students listen to virtual program delivered by expert interpreter Chris Dodds at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park
Students listen to virtual program delivered by expert interpreter Chris Dodds at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park
Students listen to virtual program delivered by expert interpreter Chris Dodds at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park
Students listen to virtual program delivered by expert interpreter Chris Dodds at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park
Students listen to virtual program delivered by expert interpreter Chris Dodds at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park